The baby of the family turns 6 today. She is lying snoozling on the couch beside me at the moment and I will soon have her up for another day at Day Camp.
I think many people think Tara was a happy surprise or something, not knowing that becoming pregnant with her was a painful act of ‘moving on’ after we lost our little Scott at just 25 weeks. The 5 year age gap between her and Caity seems to say ‘?’…but we know different. But what she was and is, has always been….was pure joy.
Sure she was yet another babe who refused to sleep. Sure, I lay rocking her all night long or even sleeping on the floor beside her crib to help her stay calm and quiet. I didn’t mind. I always felt her needs and were mine alone to deal with….I didn’t want the family to feel annoyed ever by our little girl. Needless to say we have all coddled her…but it hasn’t ‘spoiled’ her….she is crazy fun and makes us all laugh out loud.
The sun will never set on her big brother…..she worships him, but her big sister will do in a pinch and you can always see her glowing when she gets to hang with the ‘big kids.’
Having a little in the family with all the bigs makes things fun. I have done her dads, brother and sisters birthdays all in a row, and had to mentally shift gears to remember how to plan a birthday celebration for a single digit instead of those sophisticated doubles. Her dramas are just as important, but seem to be easier to solve than those of her older siblings. It is a joy to get a do-over again with all the little kid stuff.
Her world is fun for all of us to explore. We love her stories. We all love being part of her detailed games. We all love to make her laugh.
Having her around makes us all remember what is important in life..she makes us all pause and step back and take the time just for fun.
Today we get to tell her how much she means to us….we will happily let her take centre stage.
Happy Birthday Tara. Just don’t grow up too fast…we are all having too much fun.
Also, she is SO smart. When we visited at Christmas, she knows what’s going on. And almost sophisticated. I’m not sure how to explain it, but she’s cool. And wise! Strangely wise for a 6 year old (then 5). Phew. I think that explains it! 🙂 Hippo birdies, Tara!
Always an adventure when having a convo with Tara 🙂
My kid just turned 6 too :]. It feels like yesterday that I was just changing her diaper and now she’s talking in complete sentences and likes to watch football, and criminal minds with me :].
lol I love watching shows with T. Trying to explain things or listening to her take cracks me up